Letters: Students and free speech

Regarding "Students have a right to speak out" (Page B9, Sunday), Jonathan Zimmerman thinks that it violates students' free speech if the Kountze Independent School District does not allow cheerleaders to display Christian messages at football games.

But the KISD is under no obligation to permit any student organization to exploit public events for purposes of propagandizing. For instance, the Young Democrats of Kountze High (presuming that there is such an organization) would have no right to paper the football stadium with messages advocating the re-election of Barack Obama.

If partisan advocacy is inappropriate for such an event why isn't sectarian advocacy? Zimmerman says that the cheerleaders designed their own banners and made them with their own supplies, so the separation of church and state is not infringed.

But the signs are displayed in public space at public events at a public school. There must be some part of "public" that Zimmerman misunderstands. "Public" means that such spaces, events and institutions are for everyone, not just a Christian majority.

Events for everyone are not the places for partisan or sectarian ax grinding.

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America reads as follows: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Jerome Zimmerman states "that the practices of the Santa Fe High School in regard to prayer at a school function violated the First Amendment's establishment clause as the Supreme Court correctly ruled in 2000."

In my opinion, not only is Zimmerman wrong, but the ruling of the Supreme Court erred in its decision. The Santa Fe High School is not Congress, nor did it act for Congress.

If Congress can make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, neither can the Supreme Court or any other body acting for or against the free practice of religion in the United States of America. It is Congress' duty and their duty alone.

It seems to me that the First Amendment is perfectly clear on this matter. Any interpretation to the contrary is in violation of the Constitution all Americans hold dear.

Rex DeShazo, Deer Park

A real test

Will posters with prayers from Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Satanism and atheism be allowed at the football games? That would certainly be educational.